Gov. Bev Perdue announced that TENOWO Inc., formerly known as HOF Textiles, a manufacturer specializing in functional and decorative nonwovens for automotive, industrial and apparel applications, will expand its operations in Lincoln County. The company plans to create 26 jobs and invest $7.2 million over the next three years. The project was made possible in part by a $50,000 grant from the One North Carolina Fund. "Creating jobs is my first priority," said Gov. Perdue. "Our customized job training programs and skilled workforce have created a top business climate where manufacturers can thrive in a global economy."TENOWO was founded in 1992 in Lincolnton as HOF Textiles and is a wholly owned subsidiary of the German based eswegee Vliesstoff GmbH, a division of Textilgruppe Hof. Using advanced proprietary manufacturing technologies, TENOWO is a leading supplier to global producers of high quality automotive components and apparel products. As a part of the expansion, the company will add fiber supply and power coating lines to meet increased demand. The company currently employs 67 people in Lincoln County.Salaries will vary by job function, but the average annual wage for the new jobs will be $32,538, plus benefits. The Lincoln County average annual wage is $31,252."TENOWO is excited and eager to move forward with expansion plans for our Lincoln County facility," said Dr. Lothar Hackler, President of TENOWO Inc. "The expansion will allow TENOWO to double the capacity for high engineered Nonwoven products for the North American automotive industry. The support from Lincoln County and the State of North Carolina were critical to the company's final decision to expand the Lincolnton plant. This has been a very successful location for our company and we look forward to an even brighter future for our employees and our company. "This is an excellent expansion for Lincoln County," said Rep. Jason Saine of Lincolnton. "North Carolina is a leader in nonwoven textiles, and this project further strengthens our reputation."The One NC Fund provides financial assistance, through local governments, to attract business projects that will stimulate economic activity and create new jobs in the state. Companies receive no money up front and must meet job creation and investment performance standards to qualify for grant funds. These grants also require and are contingent upon local matches.North Carolina continues to have a top-ranked business climate. Through Gov. Perdue's JobsNOW initiative, the state works aggressively to create jobs, train and retrain its workforce, and lay the foundation for a strong and sustainable economic future.Through use of the One NC Fund, more than 65,000 jobs and $12 billion in investment have been created since 2001. Other partners that helped with this project include: the N.C. Department of Commerce, N.C. Community Colleges, and Lincoln Economic Development Association.